Equip Mental Health Services

14/05/2026

👚 Pink Shirt Day can sometimes feel a bit surface-level if we’re not careful. Because the truth is, a lot of workplace bullying doesn’t happen out in the open.

It happens in subtle ways:

People being excluded.
Constant criticism.
Public embarrassment.
Information being withheld.
People being made to feel small over time.

And often, everyone around it knows it’s happening.

Pink Shirt Day is a good reminder that creating safe workplaces isn’t just HR or leadership's job.

Culture belongs to all of us.
Small interactions matter.
Backing someone up matters.
Listening matters.
Not laughing along matters.

There are new Workplace Bullying resources up in the Kete Hauora, Wellness Hub including the subtle signs of bullying and what to do if you are being bullied.

🩷 Share and save for anyone that might need them.

Real change begins with each of us – every conversation, every decision to speak up, every moment we choose respect over silence. Ending workplace bullying isn’t about one day a year - it’s about building a culture where everyone feels safe, valued, and heard - everyday.

Have a kind Friday 💕

Top up your hauora - your well-being. A kete to dip into whenever you need to slow down, breathe, or find a moment of calm.

13/05/2026

Throughout the year, theres a raft of days that can bring up memories of loved ones and feelings of grief. Those days can be rough.

If someone is on your mind, consuming your days, consider finding professional support.

There are other small things you can do to honour their memory, too. You could try writing them a letter, visit a place that brings you calm or that you loved to visit together, light a candle, share your favourite memories of them with someone or find a favourite photo of them to print out for your wall.

What are some of the ways you like to acknowledge a loved one who has passed?

09/05/2026

For anyone finding today particularly hard, we see you, we walk with you.

This Mother's Day, we’re taking a moment to acknowledge Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week: 4-10 May, aligning with Maternal Mental Health Day earlier this week on Wednesday 6th May.

Becoming a mother can be a beautiful time, but it's no walk in the park.

As many as 1 in 5 new mothers experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder.

These illnesses frequently go unnoticed and untreated, with tragic and long-term consequences to both mother, child and whānau. And no one is immune to it - even fathers can experience Postnatal Depression. There’s an emotional toll on whānau too, especially if they're caring for someone in mental distress.

This year's Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week is Walking With You.
Real support.
Real listening.
Real change.

Something that resonates for us at Equip.

So if you know someone who's recently become a parent, please check in on them. Let them know you're there, offer practical support and a safe space to open up if they need to. Feeling safe is often the key to someone reaching out for help.

08/05/2026

The Ministry of Health has drafted a Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2026-2036. This Strategy will affect anyone who uses mental health and addiction services, the people who support them, and communities across the country.

It's a positive step forward - but it’s important to give feedback on the draft too. Giving feedback is a chance to share what’s working, what’s missing, and what they should prioritise.

Anyone in New Zealand can have their say, and you do not have to be an expert or work in mental health to share your thoughts.

So let us know if you’ll be making a submission.

Submissions close: Monday, 18 May 2026 5:00 pm

For more info and to read the draft: https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/consultation-on-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-strategy

To share your feedback: https://consult.health.govt.nz/mental-health/consultation-mental-health-wellbeing-strategy

30/04/2026

There’s a lot in the air at the moment. Rising costs, recent weather events, and everything unfolding globally - it's a lot for people to hold. So what's coming In today's edition of Equip Kōrero?

> Have your say on the draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
> A husbands experience of caring for someone with dementia mate wareware
> How to set effective goals
> Equip Kaimahi, Lanie Palm on The Difference
> NZ CST Symposium
> Breathing through stress and anxiety

Coming to an inbox near you, Friday 1 May. Subscribe now https://www.easy.link/equip-nz

29/04/2026

Are you just going through the motions?

Staying on track matters.

We know that feeling of being so stuck, you just can’t think of what to do next or where to start.

An Awhi Ora Community Support Worker, helps you to keep moving forward, even when life feels harder.
Responding to your unique situation, an experienced community support worker can help with:

• building self-care routines and achievable goals
• strengthening mental wellbeing
• WINZ processes or advocacy
• exploring employment or career pathways
• linking with budget or financial support services
• connecting with community groups
• accessing other support agencies
• sourcing disability and mental health resources

Alongside primary care (such as your GP) this approach means you feel supported and confident in managing everyday challenges.

Ask your GP about Awhi Ora referrals or contact Equip on 09 4770338 for more info.

Getting support early can help life feel more manageable and reduce the chance of challenges becoming overwhelming.

www.equip.net.nz/how-we-help/awhi-ora

27/04/2026

Today is World Day for Safety and Health at Work - but this one’s about more than hard hats and hazard signs.

Work can give us a lot: connection, purpose, a sense of being part of something.

But it can also carry pressure, stress, and the quiet weight people don’t always talk about.

In most workplaces, you’ll find a mix of experiences:

- people who are thriving
- people who are doing okay
- people who are stretched
- people who are struggling, quietly

And that can change week to week.

The thing that makes the biggest difference isn’t a poster or a one-off initiative.

It’s the environment. A workplace where:

- people are treated fairly
- conversations feel safe
- support shows up early, not just when things get serious
- bullying and exclusion aren’t brushed off

In Aotearoa, we often talk about wellbeing through Te Whare Tapa Whā - the idea that everything is connected: hinengaro, tinana, wairua, whānau.

Work is part of that too.

A mentally healthy workplace isn’t about being perfect. It’s paying attention - to people, to patterns, and to what’s changing.

https://www.equip.net.nz/mahi/28-april-world-safety-and-health-at-work-day/

17/04/2026

Staying connected to people, to conversation, to everyday moments - it all matters.

Our Cognitive Stimulation Sessions is a free programme designed for people living with dementia mate wareware. They offer a gentle, supportive space to engage the mind and spend time with others.

Each session includes shared activities like conversation, music, art, and games that are guided at a comfortable pace.

Registrations are essential with participants and their whānau being invited to an introductory session.

https://www.facebook.com/share/19XPmM7ooa

10/04/2026

If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unsettled, that’s a normal response. Your body is trying to keep you safe.

A few small things that can help:

– Make a simple safety plan
– Name what you’re feeling
– Write things down to clear your head
– Check in with someone you trust
– Be gentle with your energy

In the moment:

– Slow your breathing
– Ground yourself in what’s around you
– Take breaks from the news
– Focus on what you can control

Try not to brush off how you feel. Your experience matters.

Take care, stay connected, and follow local advice 💛

https://www.equip.net.nz/kete/coping-with-anxiety